Method and apparatus for traversing strand material



1965 LA VERDO J. Fox ETAL 3,169,717

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TRAVERSING STRAND MATERIAL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 20, 1962 lNVENToRs- LAVERDO 3'. Fox SAMUEL RGsusaw ATTORNEY 1965 LA VERDO J. FOX ETAL 3,169,717

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TRAVERSING STRAND MATERIAL Filed March 20, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 k 58 INVENTORS. 42 o LAVERDO 3'. Fox

Y 5 mum. R.Gansou ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,169,717 MEN-I01) AND APPARATUS FGR TRAVERdiNG STRAND MATEREAL La Verde 3. Fox and Samuel R. Genson, Bow'iingGreen, Ohio, assignors to Iohns-Manviiie Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Fiied Mar. 20, 1962, Ser. No. 181359 9 Ciairns. (Cl. 242-43) This invention relates to the traversing of strand ma terial as it is being wound upon a winding core. More particularly, this invention relates to automatic traversing mechanism which is adaptable to operate in conjunction with automatic machinery for winding continuous filaments or strands. v

While the method and apparatus of this invention is not necessarily limited for use with any particular strand, it is particularly adapted for use with the formation of heat-softenable continuous filaments, such as glass, and hence will be describedin connection therewith.

Continuous glass filaments are usually produced by attenuating exudations formed at the discharge orifices of a glass melting receptacle. The attenuation means usually comprises the winding upon which the continuous filaments are wound to form a strand package. Medially of the melting receptacle and the winding core is positioned a converger for converging a plurality of filaments, in the presence of a lubricant, binder, or other treating material, into a strand. Then medially of the converger and the winding core isusually positioned a fast traverser for alternately traversing the strand across the face of the package being formed.

The great majority of traversing mechanisms presently employed in connection with glass filaments winding are of the rotating type. In one such type of traverse, such as disclosed in US Patent No. 2,391,870, Beach, a pair of opposed and conical spiral cams are supported upon a rotating shaft; the cams complement each other in a manner whereby each alternatively engages and progresses the strand across the face of the package being formed. In another type of rotating traverse, exemplified in U.S. Patent No. 2,352,781, Fletcher et al., a pair of counter-rotating shafts are each provided with a set of strand engaging pins; the pins are moved in a circular path in a manner whereby the strand is alternately engaged by a pin of each set to traverse the strand back and forth along the package being formed.

The rotating type of traverse is not completely satis factory for the reason that the strand isalternately shifted from one strand engaging member of the traversing mechanism to another. Such alternate engagement produces undue abrasion and tension in the strand. Another disadvantage of such traversers, when used in connection with strand having lubricants, sizes, binders or other treating material applied thereto is that of increased maintenance attributable to the complex and increased surface -area upon which such treating material accumulates. Furthermore, if such traversers are not diametrically and dynamically balanced. the strand engaging members flutter. Such fluttering not only scatters the treating material from the strand but also produces uneven strand tension. High speed photographs of those traversers having a plurality of cams mounted for rotation about a common axis disclose that nodes sometimes result, a node being a'position where the strand resists traversing movement, at least momentarily. Hence, the strand tension is varied from that when the strand is are not of constant diameter and abrasion reduces the tensile strength of the filaments. This becomes of considerable importance when viewed in the light of the 'in opposite directions.

ship whereby a progressive motion is imparted when the traversing element swings in a first direction and a regressive motion is imparted when the traversing element swings in a reverse direction.

In a preferred embodiment of this invention, a plurality of continuous filaments are attenuated from a plurality of exudations formed at the discharge orifices of a glass melting receptacle, the filaments are wound as a strand upon a winding core positioned on a rotating mandrel, medially of the mandrel and the melting receptacle the filaments are converged into a strand at a converger whereat a lubricant or other liquid treating material is applied to the filaments as they are converged; medially of the converger and the mandrel the strand is engaged for fast traverse by an oscillating strand-engaging element mounted for oscillation about an axis inclined in the order of 30 from a vertical position and for oscillation through an interval of substantially 60, and the mandrel is preferably reciprocallymounted to impart a slow traverse to the strand across the face of the package being formed. Consequently, as the strand advancing from a source is subjected to the fast traversing "force oscillating about an axis transverse to the axis about which the mandrel rotates, the strand defines a night 2 improved apparatus for forming a continuous filament package, which apparatus obviates the disadvantages of the prior art.

It is another object of this invention to provide method and apparatus for traversing a strandin an arrangement whereby the strand may be continuously engaged by one strand engaging element of the traversing mechanism throughout the formation of a single strand package, thereby avoiding the need for transfer from one strand engaging element to another and the concomitant disadvantages. 7

:It is a further object of this invention to provide an oscillating traversing mechanism in spaced relation with the package being formed for positively effecting traverse The invention will be better understood from the following description of species thereof when taken in conjunction with the drawings.

PEG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation view-of apparatus for forming a package of continuous glass filaments utilizing a traversing mechanism embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the winding and traversing mechanisms of FIG. 1, illustrating the cornparative movement of the fast (primary) traverse and the slow (secondary) traverse;

PEG. 3 is a plan view of the'fast traverse mechanism illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a pictorial schematic view illustrating the various positions the strand assumes in respect to the strand engaging element of the fast traversing mechanism during oscillation;

FIG. 5 is a schematic representation illustrating the relative position of the convergen fast traverse mechanism, and winding mandrel when the fast traverse mechanism is mounted on one side of the winding mandrel;

' primary traversing force. Oblique oscillation is preferred the relative positions of the strand engaging element and a the strands during traverse are also illustrated;

FIG. 6 is a representation similar to FIG. 5 illustrating the relative positions of the elements when the fast traarms;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 3 illustrating an alternate embodiment of fast traverse mechanism;

FIG. 9 is a plan view illustrating the manner in which a plurality of fast traverse mechanisms may be interconnected for oscillation by a single power means; and

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary end elevation View of the strand engaging member of the fast traverse mechanism and its support.

Referring to FIG. 1, the primary or fast traversing mechanism, generally indicated by the numeral 46, is shown in connection with apparatus for forming continuous glass filaments comprising a glass melting recep tacle it from which a plurality of exudations 12 are exuded. The exudations 12 are attenuated into a plurality of filaments 14 by means of a rotating core or spool 15 'mounted for rotation on mandrel 18. The filaments 14 are converged into a strand 26 by a converger 22. Liquid treatingmaterial, such as lubricants, binders, sizes, or the like, may be applied to the filaments 14 as they are converged by means of spray head 24.

The primary traverse mechanism 4t which will be described in more detail hereinafter, is positioned to engage the strand 2% medially of the converger 22 and the mandrel 18.

The tubular core 16, which serves as the base for the package being formed, is removably mounted on mandrel 18 for rotation therewith. Mandrel 18 is shown to be supported by and rotatable with shaft 26 driven by motor 28. Motor 23 is suitably mounted for reciprocation upon guide 36) in a direction 31 parallel to the axis of rotation of mandrel 18. The reciprocation of motor 28 may be accomplished by any suitable known means (not shown). Such reciprocation of the motor 28 and consequently of core 16 effects a secondary, or slow, traverse movement of the strand across the face of the package being formed. The primary traverse 4t eifects a series of progressive and regressive bights across the package being formed whereas the secondary traverse effects a uni-lateral progression of the series of bights to form a layer extending the length of the package to be formed.

The primary traverse mechanism v4i) shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 comprise a strand engaging member inthe form of bar 42. The bar 42 is suitably secured through rocking arm or crank 43 to oscillating shaftv or pivot member 44 which may be journaled and supported by stand 46. .Oscillating movement is imparted to shaft 44 and hence to bar 42 by rocker arm 47 which, through connecting link 48, is driven by power means, such as motor Si), through an eccentric 52. Oscillating shaft 44 is preferably supported to extend at substantially a angle from normal and in a direction such that the upper portion of shaft 44, that supporting crank 43 is near a vertical plane passing through the periphery of core 16. Such an arrangement permits bar 42 to be supported with as short a crank 43 as possible without interfering with the insertion or removal of the core 16 from mandrel 18 upon completion of a wound package. Such arrangement causes the bar 42 to be oscillated through an oblique plane, as may be best observed in FIG. 1, rather than a horizontal plane and results in a shift in position of the of 5 inches wide, is built upon the core.

since it is believed to assist in deterring the formation of a node in the oscillating cycle.

In FIGS. 8 and 9, the secondary traversing mechanisms are positioned so that the bar 42 oscillates through the same general plane, and in the same general manner, as bar 42 in FIGS. 16. a

The positions of the bar 42 as it oscillates may also be observed by comparing FIG. 3 with FIG. 5. In each of the FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 the neutral position N other 42 is shown in solid lines; the front position F, when the bar 42 is closest to a plane passing through the center of the package being formed, is shown in phantom lines and the back position B, when the bar 42 is farthest from a plane passing through the center of the package being formed, is shown in phantom lines As may be further viewed in FIG. 4, the relative position at which bar 42 engages strand 20 to impart tension or a traversing force thereto continually shifts. In position B the bar 42 engages strand 2! at a relatively high point while in positon F the bar 42 engages strand 21) at a relatively low point.

The bar 42 is oriented to engage the strand 20with slight tension throughout the oscillatory movement of bar 42, which movement is preferably in the order of 30 on either side of the neutral position N. The tensional engagement of the bar 42 tends to deviate the strand 20 advancing from converger 22 to core 16 from an absolutely straight path. As the bar 42 oscillates from position B to position F the strand 2i seeks to maintain a position approaching a straight path and sldies along the highly polished surface of the bar 42 to impart an incremental lateral movement across the face of the package being formed, which movement may be in the order of 3 inches. Then as the bar 42 oscillates back to position B, the strand 2t} slides in an opposite or regressive manner across the face of the package being formed. Concurrently with the oscillatory movement of the bar 42 which imparts an incremental fast traverse to the strand 20 there is a lateral movement of the mandrel 18 together with core 16 which lateral movement imparts a slow traverse movement. The traversing movements, fast and slow, are continued until a layer, in the order Additional layers may be superimposed upon the first layer by reversing the lateral movement of the slow traverse.

The bar 42 is preferably of highly polished metal to resist abrasion of the glass strand 20 as it is traversed and to provide a comparatively rigid member which can withstand forces, and thus. avoid damage, caused by the occasonal bursting of the cores 16. The cores 16 are usually made up of paper or plastic material which upon repeated wetting by excess liquid treating material dropping from converger '22 and subsequent drying become weakened. When such weakened cores 16 are positioned on expansible maudrels 13 and brought up to rotating speed they burst and explode from the mandrel with great force. Some of the prior art devices have not been sufiiciently rigid or strong to resist damage from such a force. I

In FIG. 6 is illustrated the manner in which the bar 42 engages the strand 2!} and tension imparted during the different phases of the oscillatory cycle when the bar 42 is mountedon the side of the strand 20 opposite to that illustrated in FIG. 5.

From the above description it is apparent that it is 'not necessary toengage the strand on opposite sides in order to impart both progressive and regressive motions to the strand. However, in some situations it may be desirable to provide a member(s) with surfaces which positively engage the strand on opposite sides, one during the progressive motion and another during the regressive motion, in the manner illustrated in FIG. 7.

U-bar 142, corresponding to bar 42 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, has arms 143 and 144, with arm 144 adjustably secured to crank 43 by bracket 145 and screws 146. Upon movement of crank 43 in a manner whereby bar 142 moves toward the front position F, arm 144 engages the strand; upon reverse movement, arm 143 engages the strand. Bar 142 may be rotatably adjusted to provide any desirable horizontal spacing between the trailing surface 147 of arm 143 and the leading surface 148 of arm 144. It will be apparent that separate elements each suitably mounted for oscillation in unison, corresponding to 143 and 144, may be provided rather than using a single U-member.

FIG. 8 illustrates alternate embodiments of some of the features shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. Crank 43' is suitably supported by and for oscillatory movement about stationary pivot member 54. Crank 43' is connected to rod 56 extending from fluid motor 58. The bar 42' may assume configurations other than a straight line along its lineal extent, such as curvilinear, depending upon the pattern of bights desired. The use of a fluid motor provides means for easily adjusting the rate of oscillation of the fast traverse without the need of extensive controls as is required with electric motors.

Medial positioning of the strand engaging bar 42 provides a more harmonically balanced unit than that shown in FIG. 3. However, it should be noted that harmonic balancing is not as critical in the fast traverse of the instant invention as it is in the prior art devices wherein a plurality of strand engaging members are rotated about a common axis and have a tendency to flutter.

FIG. 9 illustrates a method of connecting a plurality of fast traverse mechanisms, whether they be on a single winding machine with double winding hubs or on separate winding machines, to a common power source such as fluid motor 58.

In FIG. 10 is illustrated a method of adjustably securing rod 42 to a crank 43 or other support means. Clamp member 60 is provided with a recess 62 for receiving bar 42 and with a hole 64 through which bolt 66 extends to corresponding threaded hole 68 in crank 43, which crank 43 has a recess 70, corresponding to recess 62, for receiving the bar 42. Bar 42 may be adjustably positioned simply by loosening bolt 66 and sliding the bar 42, linearly or radially, and then locked in position by retightening bolt 66.

Although the apparatus has been described in detail as to the component parts, it will be understood that such detail is for the purpose of illustration and not by way of limitation. The appended claims are therefore intended to cover all modifications coming within the true scope of the invention.

What we claim is:

1. In apparatus for winding a continuous strand about a core and including a source of said strand, means for rotating said core about a first axis and advancing said strand in a path from said source to wind the strand on said core, primary traversing means for moving said strand along the periphery of said core including a progressive and a regressive motion to define a series of bights across the core and secondary traversing means for effecting a unilateral progression of the series of bights to form a layer extending along the length of the core, the improvement wherein said primary traversing means comprises:

(a) at least one strand engaging bar member supported 1 6 said member oscillates in a plane extendingin a direction in the order of 30 from ahorizontal plane.

3. Apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein each said member oscillates in a plane such that when the length of each said member is in a vertical plane parallel to a plane extending through the length of each said first axis, the strand engages said member at a point displaced from a vertical plane extending through the axis about which each said member oscillates and which vertical plane is perpendicular to said first axis.

4. Apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein each said member oscillates through an angle in the order of 60.

5. Apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein each said member is supported by a crank arm oscillated by electrical power means.

6. Apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein each said member is supported by a crank arm oscillated by fluid motor means.

7. In apparatus for winding a continuous strand about a core and including a source of said strand, means for rotating said core about a first axis and advancing said strand in a path from said source to wind the strand on said core, primary traversing means for moving said strand along the periphery of said core in a cycle including a progressive and a regressive motion to define a series of bights, and secondary traverse means for effecting a unilateral progression of the series of bights to form a layer extending along the length of the core, the improvement wherein said primary traversing means comprises:

(a) a pair of parallel strand engaging arms supported for oscillatory movement in a plane oblique to the advancing path of said strand and to any vertical plane;

(b) one of said arms imparting the progressive motion to said strand when said arms are moved in a first direction and (c) the other of said arms imparting the regressive motion to said strand when said arms are moved in a reverse direction;

(d) each of said arms defining an extended surface along which said strand slides lengthwise thereof as said strand is advanced in said path; and

(e) means for imparting oscillatory movement to said arms.

8. Apparatus as described in claim 7 wherein said arms are radially and linearly adjustable.

9. The method of winding a continuous strand into a package including the steps of:

(a) advancing a continuous strand in a path from a source to a winding mandrel rotating about a first axis;

(b) subjecting the advancing strand to a traversing force oscillating in a plane oblique to the advancing path and about a second axis, transverse to said first axis, and shifting the position of the application of said force along a line normal to said second axis; and

(c) concomitantly subjecting said strand to a uni-directional traversing action to superpose a series of bights advancing uni-directionally across the face of said mandrel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,668,495 Elsner et al. May 1, 1928 2,663,507 Sousslotf Dec. 22, 1953 2,670,147 Joyce Feb. 23, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 480,130 Italy Apr. 22, 1953 288,370 Switzerland May 16, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CGRRECTION Patent Noe 3,169,717 February 16 1965 La Verdo J, Fox et alt.

It is, hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 6, line 6, strike out "each" and insert the same after "engages" in line 7, same column 6 Signed and sealed this 12th day of October 1965,

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. IN APPARATUS FOR WINDING A CONTINUOUS STRAND ABOUT A CORE AND INCLUDING A SOURCE OF SAID STRAND, MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID CORE ABOUT A FIRST AXIS AND ADVANCING SAID STRAND IN A PATH FROM SAID SOURCE TO WIND THE STRAND ON SAID CORE, PRIMARY TRAVERSING MEANS FOR MOVING SAID STRAND ALONG THE PERIPHERY OF SAID CORE INCLUDING A PROGRESSIVE AND A REGRESSIVE MOTION TO DEFINE A SERIES OF BIGHTS ACROSS THE CORE AND SECONDARY TRAVERSING MEANS FOR EFFECTING A UNILATERAL PROGRESSION OF THE SERIES OF BIGHTS TO FORM A LAYER EXTENDING ALONG THE LENGTH OF THE CORE, THE IMPROVEMENT WHEREIN SAID PRIMARY TRAVERSING MEANS COMPRISES: (A) AT LEAST ONE STRAND ENGAGING BAR MEMBER SUPPORTED FOR OSCILLATORY MOVEMENT IN A PLANE OBLIQUE TO THE ADVANCING PATH OF SAID STRAND AND TO ANY VERTICAL PLANE, (B) EACH SAID BAR MEMBER DEFINING AN EXTENDED SURFACE ALONG WHICH SAID STRAND SLIDES LENGTHWISE THEREOF AS SAID STRAND IS ADVANCED IN SAID PATH AND (C) MEANS FOR IMPARTING OSCILLATORY MOVEMENT TO EACH SAID BAR MEMBER. 